Matcha

Have you heard of matcha? It’s a powder that’s made from ground-up green tea leaves. It’s a great source of caffeine — “one cup of matcha has nearly 80 milligrams of caffeine, which is equivalent to a double shot of espresso,” Matchabar founder Graham Fortgang tells Teen Vogue. But it also has great stress-busting powers, thanks to an amino acid called
L-theanine. For your first taste, Fortgang suggests preparing it the same way you take your coffee — so with a splash of almond milk, latte style, or however you choose.

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Salmon

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are the ultimate brainfood — and salmon is loaded with the stuff. Research shows omega-3s boost memory and brain development.

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Turkey

So you’ve heard about how turkey contains tryptophan, right? Well, that tryptophan actually prompts the brain to release the calming chemical serotonin.

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Chocolate

Avocado

As if you needed an excuse to eat avocados! These are superfoods in many aspects, and when it comes to stress relievers, they again make the list. They are rich in glutathione, lutein, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and folate, not to mention anxiety-busting B vitamins.

Walnuts

Walnuts are rich sources of vitamins B and E, calcium, manganese, potassium, and protein. Research has also shown that eating walnuts on the regular is linked with less stress.

Photo: Getty Images/Dorling Kindersley

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Broccoli

Broccoli is “a great source of vitamin C, iron, and calcium all of which your body needs as it grows,” Lara Felton, a registered dietitian and head of nutrition for the app ShopWell, tells Teen Vogue. Folic acid and vitamin C in particular can help with levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

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Oats

Lara also recommends oats (and other whole grains like wheat, brown rice, and barley). Oats get serotonin flowing — which has a calming effect.

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Health

10 Superfoods Guaranteed to Relieve Stress

When you’re stressed, what’s the first thing you reach for? Some potato chips? Cookies? Your keys, so you can hop in the car and head for the nearest drive-thru?

While greasy, sugary foods seem great in the moment, they could actually backfire for your body in the long run. Stress to the body can be impacted by many different factors — and diet can be one of those. So instead, consider reaching for superfoods — you know, those natural foods that grow from the ground (and aren’t made in a factory) — that are jam-packed with nutrients to help your body perform optimally.

Superfoods are “foods that are nutrient-dense, and go beyond other food types because they work with your body to repair ‘wear and tear’ and boost immunity,” nutritional therapist and health coach Darshi Shah, MS, CNT, explains to Teen Vogue. When you start to regularly consume superfoods, you are super-fueling against ailments and ensuring your brain and body perform optimally so you can be the best version of yourself. So next time you’re feeling stressed, ditch the processed stuff and go for one of these options instead.